National Urban League & The Greater Harlem Chamber Of Commerce Kicks Off Inaugural Legacy Tour: “From Legacy To A New Renaissance”

On Wednesday, October 14, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the National Urban League, launched the inaugural National Urban League Legacy Tour. The tour was created to celebrate Harlem’s historic heritage while highlighting the institutions, landmarks, and leaders that continue to champion Black excellence and power social change. Its mission is to preserve and elevate Harlem’s extraordinary contributions to Black culture, civil rights, journalism, arts, entrepreneurship, and social progress, seamlessly bridging the transformative genius of the Harlem Renaissance with the boundless promise of a new renaissance.

Curated and hosted by Neal Shoemaker, Founder, Owner, and Lead Tour Guide of Harlem Heritage Tours & Cultural Center, the tour kicked off at the National Urban League’s new headquarters and headed north toward the Schomburg Center. Along the route, Shoemaker highlighted key historic sites, including the 135th Street redevelopment project spearheaded by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. This transformational initiative features Striver’s Gardens, the home of the New Heritage Theatre Group, the iconic five-story Dizzy Gillespie mural, and the Harlem Walk of Fame honoring legendary local icons.

The first official stop on the journey was the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The visit was curated by Kevin Matthews, Schomburg Center Deputy Director of Operations and External Affairs, who engaged participants in an immersive journey highlighting the Schomburg’s 100-plus-year history. It culminated in a private, curated talk examining the center’s latest exhibition, Forging Ahead: Recent Acquisitions of Black Women Artists. “Exhibitions like Forging Ahead—which stands as one of our largest-ever showcases of contemporary Black women’s art featuring works by 21 visionary artists through March 27, 2027—allow us to continuously expand the narrative of Black genius,” said Matthews.

The second stop along the historic route was the New York Amsterdam News, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential Black newspapers. Founded in 1909, the publication relocated to its current offices in central Harlem in 1940. The establishment still maintains its original printing press and archival printmaking tools from that foundational era and is slated to undergo a major renovation to reimagine the facility as a curated cultural hub. Having chronicled the struggles, triumphs, and daily life of the community for more than a century, the pioneering publication continues to bridge its historic role as the voice of Black America with a redefined mandate for 21st-century storytelling.

Continuing the cultural celebration, participants arrived at the world-famous Apollo Stages at the Victoria—where stars are born and legends are made. Billy Mitchell, longtime Apollo historian, led a spirited deep dive into theater history, complete with lively music trivia covering Ella Fitzgerald, Motown, and Showtime at the Apollo. “Passing down the stories of artists who changed world culture right here in Harlem is a joy that never fades,” shared Mitchell before leading an energetic group singalong.

The tour proceeded to The Studio Museum in Harlem for an exclusive private tour of its state-of-the-art new facility, curated by Natasha L. Logan, Chief Program Officer, and Terrence Phearse, the museum’s Chief of Staff. As a global nexus for contemporary art, the museum stands as a cornerstone of Harlem’s Second Renaissance.

The day concluded with an upbeat reception at the National Urban League Empowerment Center. Introduced by GHCC Interim Chairman Judge Milton Tingling, President and CEO Marc H. Morial welcomed the crowd, highlighting the center’s economic drivers, headquarters, and the upcoming Urban Civil Rights Museum opening November 14. “When people come to NYC, we want them to come to Harlem,” declared Morial. “We appreciate everyone welcoming us back home—we intend to be active, respectful, and deeply involved citizens for decades to come!”